It was a Friday night, just after dinner. On my way to the garage to pull out the Christmas tree, the phone rang.
A dumb joke, even for my brother-in-law.
“I’m not kidding,” Craig said, and I could hear the panic in his voice. “Alaine’s on her way to pick you up.”
That’s how quickly life changes from before to after. One minute you’re eating cauliflower pizza, wishing you’d bought the real thing. The next, you’re running around the house like a crazy person, trying to pack for God knows what. Hospitals are always cold—take a sweater. A toothbrush—who knows how long you’ll be there. Excedrin—put the bottle in your purse but take two now.
He fell and hit his head. How bad could it be? Craig said he was talking at first. That’s good. He’s fine. But then why did they need a helicopter? What did Craig say about blood? I can’t remember. Don’t forget to leave food and water for the cats.
This can’t be happening.
It would be months before I stopped saying that mantra in my head, over and over.
Excerpts:
Prologue
The Golden Hour
Life As We Knew It
Resources:
Our Journey with STROKESTRA®
Brainline.org
Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC)
Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program - Florida Dept. of Health
